Method of purifying water.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.IOI-IN \VILSON, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y.

METHOD OF PURIFYING WATER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 629,409, dated July25, 1899.

Application filed November 28, 1898. Serial No. 697,689. (No specimens.)

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JOHN WILSON, a citizen of the United States,residing in the borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, city and State ofNew York, have invented a new and useful Method of Purifying Water, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to render water potable or to increase itspotability and also to purify it for other purposes-as, for instance,for laundry use or employment in steam-generators.

In carrying out my improvement I take the water whether underatmospheric pressure, pneumatic pressure, hydraulic pressure, or anyother pressure and add thereto an aqueous-solution of sodic chloride,alumina, and sulphate of alumina. This I use in proportions suitable tothe character of the water to be purified, and hence it is impossible togive definite proportions. For example, I would suggest that for waterhaving twenty grains of impurities to the gallon I may successfully useone grain of sodic chloride, one grain of alumina, and one-fourth grainof sulphate of alumina. After this treatment the water in ust be freedfrom impurities by settling, decantation, or filtration by means of anydesirable apparatus.

Water containing impurities different in amount from the example givenmay be treated by takingaportion of such water in a graduated test-tube,adding sodic chloride, alumina, and sulphate of alumina in theproportions above given, and if that amount be insufficient toprecipitate adding the same number of grains of each and proceeding inthat manner until a precipitate is formed. Additions of sodic chloride,alumina, and sulphate of alumina will be made until the precipitationshall have ceased. This process will be pur sued with such rapidity thatthe results will not be dependent upon the settling of such impuritiesas may separate by gravitation. Thus I shall obtain the proper amount ofsodic chloride, alumina, and sulphate of alumina for the impurities.Having thus determined the proportion necessary for the treatment of anywater, I employ that proportion.

The method of treating the water is to add the sodic chloride,which willprincipally unite with any argillaceous matter and form chlorid ofalumina, which precipitates quickly. The sulphate of alumina,which isalso aquick pre cipitant, acts to unite more particularly with thevegetable matter in the water, although it also acts to precipitate theargillaceous matter. The alumina is to take up any acid or to neutralizeany corrosive efiect of any acid or acids that may be in the water.

Wherever I use in my specification and claim the terms alumina andsulphate of alumina they are to be understood as not meaning any of thealums.

The sodic chloride, alumina, and sulphate of alumina may be introducedseparately or together.

Any suitable apparatus may be used for carrying out my improvements.

What I claim as my invention is- The method of purifying waterconsisting in introducing into it sodic chloride, alumina and sulphateof alumina, in sufficient quantities to precipitate the impurities, andatterward separating the impurities from the water.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

. JOHN WILSON.

Witnesses:

H. OoUrANT, GEO. E. CRUsn.

